FRIDAY, MARCH 13
11:00 AM Hyatt: Zilker Ballroom 4
Challenges of Free-to-Play: No Money, No Problem
A group of professionals from across the gaming spectrum will come together to re-
flect on the frustrations and follies that may occur when trying to build a free-to-play
game. Panelists will take you behind the scenes and offer you advice on launching
your own free-to-play titles. They will tell stories of heartache and success as they
attempted to change freemium into something premium.
Cory Butler, Gary Gattis, Jeff Petry, Matthew Hemby
Panel // Intermediate // #Free2Play
11:00 AM Long: AT&T Education Room
Life in the OASIS: Emulating the 1980s in-Browser
The novel Ready Player One features the Oasis, a virtual world providing access to
endless media. The Internet Archive allows instant access to thousands of microcom-
puter programs and console games. Author Ernest Cline and Internet Archive's Jason
Scott discuss the consequences of a world with endless vintage computing access,
and what of the 1980s they're working the hardest to save.
Ernest Cline, Jason Scott
Dual // Intermediate // #TheOASIS
11:00 AM Long: Kodosky
Check Online for Session Scheduled in This Timeslot
Things change! That's what websites are for. Check our online schedules at sched-
ule.sxsw.com, our digital program book at sxsw.com/iaguide, or SXSW GO, our su-
per-handy mobile app to find information about what will occur in this room at this
time. We bet it'll be something really cool that you won't want to miss, whatever it is!
To Be Announced
Session // Beginner // #SXSWGaming
12:30 PM Hyatt: Zilker Ballroom 4
Designing New IP for New Technologies
An evolving case study where a small, albeit seasoned, development team tackles the
objectives of designing new content for virtual reality and all of its related unknowns.
Many lessons emerge from the challenges of targeting this new and extremely pow-
erful medium. Take aim at better understanding how to approach game and IP design
for special technologies in unproven markets.
Lorne Lanning
Solo // Advanced // #IPdesign
12:30 PM Long: AT&T Education Room
Lovejams, Art Games, and Game Innovation at USC
It takes a very special kind of community to support the development of truly experi-
mental work in games. Working with experts across fields such art, education, medical
research, architecture and more, the Game Innovation Lab has launched several of
the most influential independent games in the past decade. Find out how to create a
fearless community of experimentation and innovation!
Tracy Fullerton
Solo // Beginner // #SXSWGaming
12:30 PM Long: Kodosky
Gaming Pioneers: Meet Intellivision Programmers
Enjoy a panel of Blue Sky Rangers — the Intellivision game designers of Mattel Elec-
tronics — as they share their memories and answer your questions about the pioneer-
ing days of video games. From the technical challenges of developing a game that
fits into a 4K cartridge, to the antics of a young, creative team of programmers and
everything in between. And, learn what Intellivision is up to today!
David Warhol, Julie Hoshizaki, Keith Robinson, William Fisher
Panel // Advanced // #intylives
3:30 PM Hyatt: Zilker Ballroom 4
Design Perspectives on Meaningful Choice
This panel examines the issue of meaningful choice within games. We discuss what
makes choices meaningful and how differing views on this subject can inform the de-
signer's practice of crafting experiences. This SXSW panel is valuable for both novice
and veteran designers, as it explores a complex space that game designers should
consider when crafting choice, meaning-making, and user experience.
Davey Wreden, George Royer, Rachel Weil, Shawn Sprockett
Panel // Advanced // #GameChoice
3:30 PM Long: AT&T Education Room
Women in Gaming: Navigating Successful Careers
Game development has frequently been viewed as a guy thing. What's the real life
experience of women game developers? Our panel of industry vets will discuss why
and how they got into game development. They'll tell the stories of challenges and
successes, talk about the different disciplines in gaming, and answer the question:
Why be game developers?
Susan Bollinger, To Be Announced
Dual // Beginner // #SXSWGaming
3:30 PM Long: Kodosky
Egg Hunt: The History of Easter Eggs in Games
An easter egg is an inside joke or hidden message that developers hide in their games
to leave their mark. The first recorded easter egg came in Atari's Adventure, released
in 1979, and it has continued in many games since. Come see the most memorable,
obscure, ridiculous, and difficult to discover easter eggs and hear stories from the
developers who hid them and the fans who search for them.
Juuso Myllyrinne, Matias Myllyrinne
Dual // Intermediate // #sxeaster
5:00 PM Hyatt: Zilker Ballroom 4
Suspension of Disbelief in Virtual Reality
Virtual reality intends to fool our senses into believing the virtual environment is re-
ality. To create this artificial experience, both hardware and software are required
to take into account how we interact with the world and how the world changes in
our presence. This panel will discuss how current and developing advancements will
suspend our disbelief to make the virtual become real.
Amir Rubin, Jan Goetgeluk, Jason Jerald, Paul Bettner
Panel // Intermediate // #SXSWVR
5:00 PM Long: AT&T Education Room
Better Living Through Minecraft
Minecraft contains lessons to make you a better parent, partner, friend and coworker!
This presentation unravels the secret code of MC to hack your life and improve rela-
tionships with the Creepers and Zombie Pigmen in your world. We'll look at how MC
redefines education and creates a global language. Learn how MC can help you think
about thinking and just make stuff better in your mind and heart.
Michael Langlois
Solo // Intermediate // #LifeCraft
5:00 PM Long: Kodosky
Using Games to Redefine the Learning Experience
Strengthening student engagement starts with creating a learning environment that's
fun, collaborative and completely immersive. Using the same mechanics that make
video games so compelling, we can transform the classroom so that students have a
great time, help each other thrive and keep coming back for more!
Devin Young, Shawn Young
Dual // Beginner // #ClassGames
SATURDAY, MARCH 14
9:30 AM Hyatt: Zilker Ballroom 4
Media Criticism and the Study of Games
Video games are the first new medium of expression to come of age since television.
Our understanding of how games function is vague and unformed. It is natural that
critical methodologies applied to other media would be applied to games as well.
In this talk, we will discuss this phenomenon as well as unique critical approaches
developed specifically for video games.
Warren Spector
Solo // Beginner // #GamesStudy
9:30 AM Long: AT&T Education Room
Check Online for Session Scheduled in This Timeslot
Things change! That's what websites are for. Check our online schedules at sched-
ule.sxsw.com, our digital program book at sxsw.com/iaguide, or SXSW GO, our su-
per-handy mobile app to find information about what will occur in this room at this
time. We bet it'll be something really cool that you won't want to miss, whatever it is!
To Be Announced
Session // Beginner // #SXSWGaming
GAMING
HYATT REGENCY AUSTIN: 208 BARTON SPRINGS ROAD; THE LONG CENTER: 701 WEST RIVERSIDE DRIVE
144 SXSW 2015 Interactive Festival
FESTIVAL
SESSIONS
